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Windhan high school groundbreaking ceremony set

PELHAM — Work is underway on the Pelham High School renovation project, and school officials are planning an official groundbreaking ceremony next month.

The $22.5-million project was approved by voters in March.

During the spring, the project’s construction management firm, Bonnette, Page, and Stone, accepted bids from subcontractors for much of the work on the project.

As the summer has progressed, much of the site work got underway.

Early in July, work began on the new septic system in the back of the high school. By the end of July, work was on schedule for the new high school parking lot.

Although there has been much work going on at the high school property this summer, it won’t be until next month when the community is invited to the official groundbreaking ceremony, scheduled Friday, Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. at the high school.

As the project continues, the School Board will continue to play a role in the construction. Board Chairman Brian Carton said

The board has formed a building committee, which will work in an advisory role with the construction project management team.

Two board members sit on the committee, which is chaired by Pelham High School Principal Dorothy Mohr. The committee also includes community members and high school faculty and staff.

The project includes a new two-story addition and would increase the total square-footage of the high school by nearly 50 percent, from 88,000 square feet to 130,000 square feet.

When the work is complete, the high school will have more classrooms, existing classrooms will be larger, the cafeteria and gym will have new looks, and there will be a new performing arts space.

The new classroom space means the district will also be able to get rid of the portable classrooms currently on high school grounds.

The project looks to eliminate much of the traffic congestion at the school by creating more parking to the right of the building and changing the location of the bus loop.

Outside, several playing fields will be moved, including the softball field and tennis courts, to make way for the new addition, which will be visible from the main road.